Shabana Mahmood comments on the government imposing delays to court hearings to ease prison overcrowding

Shabana Mahmood MP, Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the government imposing delays to court hearings to ease prison overcrowding, said:

“The Tories continue to make major and unprecedented changes to the justice system without so much as a word to the public. It's completely unacceptable and the public will be alarmed at this latest panic measures.

“The government is stalling justice and leaving victims in limbo because of the mess they have created. This comes days after they hid from the public that they're now letting criminals out of jail earlier than ever before.

“It is astonishing that lawyers and witnesses, let alone the public, are none the wiser on which cases will actually be affected – how many people will be let out on bail when they should have been remanded, and how will the government ensure public safety is not compromised?

“This is no way to run the justice system, and it is certainly no way to run the country. Communities will rightly conclude that they're less safe under Rishi Sunak's Tory Party.”

Ends

Notes:

Court delays imposed after pressure on prison places: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-69014154